Padma row near-over, Muhith claims

Dhaka, Oct 16 (bdnews24.com) – Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith says the government has 'almost' resolved the confusion with the World Bank over its funding of the much-hyped Padma bridge project.

"We've almost reached a solution. I can't say anything more about it," he told reporters on Sunday at the finance ministry.

He said the government is preparing a letter to clarify its position on the international money lender's allegations of corruption in the project.

"Prime minister Sheikh Hasina's advisor Moshiur Rahman has been told to prepare the letter. He'll send it to her after finishing it."

He said, "I'll send it to the World Bank vice-president after it comes to me. Afterwards, the government will issue a press note in this regard."

He also said that all of these would happen this week.

Muhith termed the uncertainty over the WB funding as a 'temporary matter' and added, "Everything will be fine."

The country's biggest-ever infrastructure project worth $2.9 billion is to be co-financed by the World Bank, with the global lender offering a $1.2-billion assistance promise. But last week they announced suspension of funding on charges of corruption and irregularities in the tender process.

Although allegations was levelled against communications minister Syed Abul Hossain, and the secretary of bridges division was transferred over the matter, Bangladesh government has so far denied the charges.

The corruption issue came to light when World Bank requested the Canadian authorities to inspect an alleged misconduct of SNC Lavalene, which had been short listed for Padma bridge project's monitoring.

Quoting World Bank vice president Isabel Guerrero, foreign minister Dipu Moni on Sunday said they have assured that the deadlock over the project's funding would be resolved soon.

She told reporters that the World Bank vice president gave the assurance during a conversation on Oct 13. "I told her that we need this."

The government signed loan deals with the WB on Apr 28, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on May 18, the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) on May 24 and with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on June 6 this year to get $2.4-billion credit.

The ADB will give Bangladesh $615 million, IDB $140 million and JICA will give $415 million for the project. The government will spend the rest of money from its coffers.

The 10-kilometre bridge will be the longest in Asia. Six kilometres of the bridge will be built over the river while four kilometres on the land to link the country's central region with the South.

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